Jacksons: Michael persecuted like Jesus

The group - brothers Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine - think the late King of Pop's life mirrored the Biblical figure's own existence in many ways because of the effect he had on people and the way his life was destroyed.

Asked if Michael was a pop messiah, Jackie said: ''I wouldn't say that. No one's bigger than God or Jesus.

"But everywhere Michael went, every country, when he left the airport people would line up on the freeway just to get a glimpse of him.''

Speaking to The Guardian newspaper, Jermaine added: ''God blessed him because he knew what Michael was going to do with his talent. He was a voice for children who were starving, and he brought the world sing like We Are The World, Heal The World and Man In The Mirror.

"Everything he did was for the betterment of mankind.

''You mentioned Jesus. Look what he did when he walked the Earth. He did all those miracles and they still found a way to nail him up on that cross.''

The four brothers went on to allege Dr Conrad Murray - who is currently serving jail time for involuntary manslaughter for his part in Michael's death from Propofol intoxication in June 2009 - was a stooge of his record company Sony and they believe the label deliberately orchestrated his downfall by planting allegations of child molestation in the media.

The Thriller singer bought a 50% stake in Sony/ATV in 1985 and his siblings have a ''conspiracy theory'' that the label wanted to diminish his popularity and power to wrestle control of the valuable catalogue of songs back from Michael.

Jermaine accusingly said: ''Bottom line? They killed him. The doctor was just a figure in a bigger hand.''

The police searched Michael's home on 18 November 2003 for evidence of child abuse, on the same day his Number Ones compilation album was released, an action the Motown legends believe was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his career.

Jermaine added: ''It was the biggest album he ever could have had, probably bigger than Thriller.

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